Wet weather is forecast for later on the opening day and for much of the Sydney Test.
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Left-hander Darren Bravo also sparkled, albeit briefly, in scoring an attractive 33.
Brief Scores: West Indies (toss) 207/6 (K Brathwaite 85, C Brathwaite 35, Lyon 2/68, Hazelwood 1/65) at stumps on day 1. “Good fun to bowl on for spinners”.
Brathwaite and Bravo countered with dominant strokeplay as West Indies enjoyed one of their finest sessions of the series.
Emerging from a typical watch start, Brathwaite blossomed nicely to stroke 10 fours in an innings lasting 174 balls while Bravo showed glimpses of his good form in a 95-ball innings which contained six fours.
But Lyon, who became just the sixth Australian spin bowler to reach 100 Test wickets in Australia when he had Brathwaite caught this evening, believes that hope of an Australia win and a three-nil series scoreline continues to shine even though the Sydney sun has not.
O’Keefe will partner front-line spinner Nathan Lyon and the left-arm finger spinner said he was confident the pair could succeed bowling in tandem against the Caribbean tourists.
Just 11 overs were completed on day two as the West Indies hopes of avoiding a 3-0 series result increased. To compound Samuels’ woes, rain immediately forced the players from the field and kept them off until tea was taken. Brathwaite retreated to his end and Samuels was stranded by Hazlewood’s throw to the striker’s end.
Upon resumption, Jermaine Blackwood misjudged Lyon’s turn and was bowled off stump for ten after not offering a shot.
“We fought really well in the last two days of the last Test match and it gives us some confidence going into this one”, Holder told reporters.
A couple of overs later Stephen O’Keefe (1-42) had Jason Holder (1) caught brilliantly at short leg by Joe Burns to bring his first wicket at home.
West Indies tour of South Africa 2014-15:West Indies.
Comprehensively beaten in Hobart and Melbourne, the West Indies appear unlikely to force a result in Sydney as a result of three miserable days, but an extended stint in the change rooms has gifted West Indies coach Phil Simmons and his team time to reflect on their torrid run in Australia.
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“It is annoying. It’s hard for the guys to just continually switch off then get back up”.
